369th Fighter Group

The 369th Fighter Group was a United States Army Air Forces unit formed during World War II. It was constituted on 26 May 1943 and activated on 1 August 1943 at Hamilton Field, California. Rather than serving primarily as an overseas combat group, it operated as a fighter Replacement Training Unit, preparing pilots and aircrew for operational assignments. Its original components were the 398th, 399th, and 400th Fighter Squadrons, and the group initially flew Bell P-39 Airacobras. During its California training phase, the group used several airfields in a split-site arrangement. Group headquarters and the 398th Fighter Squadron were based at Marysville Army Air Field after the group's move there in November 1943. The 399th Fighter Squadron operated from Redding Army Air Field, while the 400th Fighter Squadron operated from Oroville Army Air Field. In January 1944, the group and the 398th joined the 400th at Oroville, although the 399th remained at Redding. These dispersed arrangements reflected the practical requirements of wartime pilot training and the use of multiple western airfields. As Army Air Forces training requirements changed, the group returned to Hamilton Field in March 1944. It was then transferred from the Fourth Air Force training structure to Third Air Force and moved to DeRidder Army Air Base in Louisiana. On 5 April 1944, it was redesignated the 369th Fighter-Bomber Group, but on 5 June 1944 it reverted to the 369th Fighter Group designation. At DeRidder, its role expanded beyond replacement training to include air-ground maneuvers and aviation demonstrations. The group participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers during the summer of 1944 and conducted comparable exercises intended to develop coordination between air and ground forces. The group's aircraft inventory changed during this period. In addition to the P-39 Airacobra, it operated the North American A-36 Apache and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk during 1944 and the North American P-51 Mustang in 1945. These aircraft represented different stages of Army Air Forces fighter and fighter-bomber training, and the group's activities included the demonstration and exercise of tactical air support capabilities rather than a documented overseas combat deployment. In July 1945, the 399th and 400th Fighter Squadrons were reorganized as reconnaissance squadrons and reassigned to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. The group subsequently moved to Stuttgart Army Air Field, Arkansas, where it was stationed from 8 February 1945 until its inactivation. The remaining 398th Fighter Squadron was reassigned on 10 August 1945, and the group was inactivated on the same date, shortly after the end of World War II. The unit did not return to active service. It was redesignated the 369th Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985 while remaining inactive, and it was finally disbanded on 9 September 1992. Its former squadrons later had United States Air Force service histories, but the group itself remained inactive after 1945. As a result, the 369th Fighter Group is best understood as a historical military organization and wartime training formation, not as a commercial brand or currently operating aviation unit.

The 369th Fighter Group was created within the wartime expansion of the United States Army Air Forces. It was constituted on 26 May 1943 and activated on 1 August 1943 at Hamilton Field, California, under the San Francisco Fighter Wing. The group was assigned three fighter squadrons: the 398th, 399th, and 400th. Equipped initially with Bell P-39 Airacobras, it was organized as a Replacement Training Unit, a type of oversized wartime formation designed to train individual pilots and aircrew before they were assigned to operational units. The group moved to Marysville Army Air Field in November 1943. Its operations were distributed among several northern California installations. Headquarters and the 398th Fighter Squadron were at Marysville, the 399th Fighter Squadron was at Redding Army Air Field, and the 400th Fighter Squadron was at Oroville Army Air Field. In January 1944, the headquarters and 398th Squadron moved to Oroville to join the 400th, while the 399th continued operating from Redding. This split arrangement allowed the Army Air Forces to use available runways, facilities, and airspace for training. By March 1944, reduced training requirements led to organizational changes. The group and its squadrons returned to Hamilton Field on 16 March. Around the end of that month, it transferred to Third Air Force and moved to DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana. The move shifted the unit away from its initial California replacement-training setting and into a broader tactical training environment. The group was redesignated the 369th Fighter-Bomber Group on 5 April 1944, then redesignated again as the 369th Fighter Group on 5 June. At DeRidder, the group took part in air-ground maneuvers, demonstrations, and related training activities. Its work included participation in the Louisiana Maneuvers during the summer of 1944, alongside comparable exercises designed to test cooperation between aircraft and ground formations. During this stage the group operated several aircraft types, including the North American A-36 Apache and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk in 1944, followed by the North American P-51 Mustang in 1945. The changing equipment reflected the Army Air Forces' evolving approach to fighter, fighter-bomber, and tactical support training. The group's wartime organization changed again in July 1945. The 399th and 400th Fighter Squadrons were reorganized as reconnaissance squadrons and reassigned to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, on 7 July. The 398th Fighter Squadron remained associated with the group until 10 August. The group was stationed at Stuttgart Army Air Field, Arkansas, from 8 February 1945. On 10 August 1945, the 398th was reassigned and the 369th Fighter Group was inactivated. After inactivation, the group was not restored to active service. Its lineage was redesignated as the 369th Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985, but the redesignation existed only in inactive status. The organization was disbanded on 9 September 1992. The individual squadrons connected with the group subsequently had later United States Air Force histories, but those later histories did not reactivate the 369th Fighter Group itself. The group's significance therefore lies in its World War II training, maneuver, and demonstration functions, as well as in its place within the lineage records of American military aviation.

• 1992

  Disbandment

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The inactive group was disbanded on 9 September.

• 1985

  Inactive tactical-fighter redesignation

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The inactive organization was redesignated the 369th Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July, without being returned to active service.

• 1945

  Squadron reorganization

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 399th and 400th Fighter Squadrons were reorganized as reconnaissance squadrons and reassigned to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, in July.

• 1945

  Inactivation

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 398th Fighter Squadron was reassigned and the group was inactivated on 10 August at Stuttgart Army Air Field, Arkansas.

• 1944

  Return to Hamilton Field and transfer to Third Air Force

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned to Hamilton Field in March, transferred to Third Air Force, and moved to DeRidder Army Air Base, Louisiana.

• 1944

  Fighter-bomber redesignation

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit became the 369th Fighter-Bomber Group on 5 April and returned to the 369th Fighter Group designation on 5 June.

• 1944

  Louisiana Maneuvers participation

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  While based in Louisiana, the group participated in air-ground maneuvers and demonstrations, including the Louisiana Maneuvers during the summer.

• 1943

  Constitution and activation

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was constituted on 26 May and activated on 1 August at Hamilton Field, California, with the 398th, 399th, and 400th Fighter Squadrons assigned.

• 1943

  Move to Marysville

  [1]369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org

  In November, the group moved to Marysville Army Air Field and began functioning as a fighter Replacement Training Unit.

A wartime United States Army Air Forces training and tactical aviation unit rather than a commercial brand. Its principal institutional role was to prepare replacement pilots and aircrew and to support air-ground maneuvers and demonstrations in the United States.

• fighter aircraft · 1943

  Bell P-39 Airacobra

  The P-39 Airacobra was the group's principal aircraft during its initial Replacement Training Unit period in California from 1943 into 1944. It provided the platform for fighter pilot and aircrew instruction before the group moved into broader tactical training activities.

• fighter-bomber aircraft · 1944

  North American A-36 Apache

  The A-36 Apache was among the aircraft associated with the group's 1944 tactical training period in Louisiana. Its inclusion reflected the group's fighter-bomber and air-ground support responsibilities after the move to DeRidder Army Air Base.

• fighter aircraft · 1944

  Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

  The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was operated by the group during 1944–1945. It supported the unit's domestic tactical exercises, air-ground maneuvers, and aviation demonstrations rather than a documented overseas combat deployment by the group.

• fighter aircraft · 1945

  North American P-51 Mustang

  The P-51 Mustang was associated with the group's final wartime aircraft period in 1945. Its use occurred during the unit's later training and demonstration activities before the group was inactivated in August.

• 1944Louisiana Maneuvers

  United States

  The group participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers and related air-ground exercises after moving to DeRidder Army Air Base. These activities trained and demonstrated coordination between tactical aircraft and ground forces.

  Outcome. The exercises formed part of the group's domestic wartime tactical-training mission.

  Source

• 1945

  Reorganization of subordinate squadronsStrategy

  Background

  Late-war organizational requirements resulted in changes to the group's subordinate units.

  Action taken

  The 399th and 400th Fighter Squadrons were converted to reconnaissance squadrons and reassigned to Will Rogers Field.

  Aftermath

  The 398th was the only remaining squadron associated with the group until its reassignment and the group's inactivation on 10 August 1945.

  Source

• 1944

  Shift from California replacement training to Louisiana tactical exercisesStrategy

  Background

  Changes in Army Air Forces training requirements led the group to return to Hamilton Field and then transfer to Third Air Force for service at DeRidder Army Air Base.

  Action taken

  The group moved from its California replacement-training role into air-ground maneuvers, demonstrations, and related tactical activities in Louisiana.

  Aftermath

  The unit continued domestic training and demonstration work until its squadrons were reorganized or reassigned in July 1945.

  Source

• 1944

  Fighter-bomber designation changeOther

  Background

  The unit's tactical role and administrative classification changed during its Louisiana assignment.

  Action taken

  It was redesignated the 369th Fighter-Bomber Group on 5 April and redesignated the 369th Fighter Group again on 5 June.

  Aftermath

  The group retained the Fighter Group designation until its inactivation in August 1945.

  Source

1. 1369th Fighter Groupen.wikipedia.org